Stories from Sunday, March 7, 2004

Sikeston Youth in Government Day student gets the first glimpse of new city position(03/07/04)SIKESTON - Sikeston High School student Trey Stone was provided with a rare opportunity Friday - it isn't very often a Youth in Government Day participant gets to see the startup of a new city office. Trey Hardy is the city's first community redevelopment coordinator, a job recently established by the City Council to address citizen concerns with dilapidated housing. ...

Program enables officers to work more drug cases(03/07/04)BENTON - Just as Scott County Sheriff's Bill Ferrell was preparing to release statistical data relating to narcotic investigations conducted by his office, he had two more arrests to add to the list. Markel C. Fitchpatrick, 30, of Vanduser and Teren H. ...

Outdoor spring tasks don't have to be painful(03/07/04)SIKESTON -- As the warm and sunny weather kicks in, area gardeners and lawn caretakers -- both professional and amateur -- will get down and dirty as they prepare lawns for spring and summer. For many of them, the seasonal tasks of trimming bushes, moving landscaping brick and planting gardens can result in sore muscles and in some cases, serious injuries...

Advance falters in bid for title(03/07/04)POPLAR BLUFF - A veteran East Carter County team showed the youthful Advance Hornets what it take to win in the playoffs with a 67-55 victory in the Class 2, District 2 championship game here at the Black River Coliseum Friday night. The win marks the second straight year that the Redbirds have defeated the Hornets in the district championship game. After last season1s district win, East Carter went on to breeze past the best class 2 teams in the state on their way to a state championship...

DeLisle signs with Flo Valley(03/07/04)PORTAGEVILLE - JoBeth DeLisle, a Portageville High School senior volleyball player, recently signed a letter of intent to play volleyball at St. Louis Community College, Florissant Valley. DeLisle has played volleyball for four years at Portageville under the direction of Gentry Vancil, her freshman and sophomore years, then Kerwin Urhahn the following years. ...

Tigers upset Twin Rivers(03/07/04)NEW MADRID - In the 2000-2001 season, the Caruthersville Tigers finally won their first district championship in school history. Just three years later, they have their second. The second-seeded Tigers rallied from 13 down to defeat top-seeded Twin Rivers 58-44 on Friday night in the Class 3, District 1 Tournament at New Madrid County Central High School...

Sun Security Bank opens a loan production office(03/07/04)SIKESTON - It is a comment that Matt Vowels not only expects, but welcomes. When he introduces himself as vice president for Sikeston's new Sun Security Bank Loan Production Office, he often hears: "Does Sikeston need another bank?" "Yes," he assures them and adds that Sun Security is ready to be part of the local mix...

Bo's merges restaurants, menus(03/07/04)SIKESTON - It is hard to change after 33 years but to the Bohannon family, owners of Bo's Bar-B-Que and the Malone Avenue Grill in Sikeston, it made perfect sense. Thirty-three years ago Clayton Bohannon and his wife, Ruby, purchased Coleman's Bar-B-Que. After 10 years as Coleman's the name was changed to Bo's in 1981...

Business Briefcase 3/7(03/07/04)SIKESTON - Bill Roberts is the Bootheel Counseling Services' Employee of the Quarter. A children's targeted case manager at the center, Roberts was cited for his "dedication to client care, his positive attitude, excellent work ethic, flexibility and willingness to give more than minimal expectations to his position."...

William Brewer(03/07/04)CLARKTON - William Vernon Brewer, 77, died March 5, 2004, at his home. Born July 4, 1926, in Lilbourn, son of the late Delbert Brewer and Martha Petty Brewer, he was a member of the First Baptist Church. A veteran of the U.S. Army serving in World War II, he was a member of the VFW in Parma and a retired carpenter...

Limuel Thomas(03/07/04)CANALOU - Limuel B. Thomas, 85, died at 1:46 p.m. on March 5, 2004, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born Feb. 10, 1919, in Gideon, son of the late William and Emma Gardner Thomas, he was a self-employed auto mechanic and was a veteran of the United States Air Force serving during World War II...

Harlin Kennedy(03/07/04)WARDELL - Harlin Edward Kennedy, 83, formerly of Advance, died March 4, 2004, at the Gideon Care Center in Gideon. Born Feb. 8, 1921, in Oran, son of the late Arthur and Mary Lawson Kennedy, he was a baker for Bunny Bread and a U.S. Army veteran of World War II...

Lydia Hogg(03/07/04)PERKINS - Lydia Hogg, 97, died March 6, 2004, at the family home in Perkins.
Amick-Burnett Funeral Home in Chaffee is in charge of arrangements, which are incomplete.

J.D. Byrne(03/07/04)CHARLESTON - J.D. Byrne, 76, died March 3, 2004, in Sebring, Fla. Born Feb. 26, 1928, in Mississippi County, son of the late Robert Bryan and Susie Hartner Byrne, he served with the U.S. Army Military Police during the Korean War. He was a graduate of Charleston High School and attended Central Methodist College in Fayette...

Lottie Hunt(03/07/04)MARSTON - Lottie Vandalley Hunt, 87, died March 4, 2004, at her home in Marston. Born April 6, 1916, in Stamps, Ark., daughter of late William Lester Gribble and Rosie Ellen Clark Gribble, she formerly resided in Wardell. On Nov. 23, 1937, in Stamps, Ark., she married Claude "Shortie" Hunt, who preceded her in death on July 29, 1966. Also one son, Jimmy Dale Hunt, and two brothers, Thomas Gribble and John Gribble preceded her in death...

Birth (published 3/7)(03/07/04)SIKESTON - Christopher Charles Wilson and Mandy Marie Shelby are the parents of their first child, a daughter, born at 9:50 p.m. Jan. 31, 2004, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Kaylee Renee Shelby weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces. Mrs. Shelby is the former Mandy Little, daughter of Kenny and Ruth Little of Sikeston. She is assistant manager for Factory Brand Shoes...

Looking Back 3/7(03/07/04)SIKESTON - J.F. Cox Sr., Glenn Matthews Sr. and J.F. Cox Jr. announced that they have purchased the Matthews Oil Co. effective Wednesday. SIKESTON - Mrs. J.R. (Lila) Harwell was named Woman of the Year at the sixth annual banquet of the Business and Professional Women's Club in the American Legion Hall Thursday night. More than 200 diners gave a standing ovation...

KRCC telethon has message to share(03/07/04)Next weekend will put the spotlight on the annual Kenny Rogers Children's Center Telethon and the remarkable work accomplished at the center. I believe that most Sikeston residents are aware of the center and have a general understanding of the miracles that occur there. But until you live and breathe with the therapists and the kids, you can only imagine what takes place...

Your view: In the beginning ...(03/07/04)I read the "On the Move 2004" supplement business and services magazine that was part of the Feb. 29 Standard Democrat. It was a nice publication about Sikeston and the surrounding communities. I was particularly interested in the article about the Kenny Rogers Children's Center and the three decades of therapy. It was a good article, but after I read it, I decided to write and clarify some things about the article, from 1977 forward...

Speakout 3/7(03/07/04)The New Madrid County Central School Board will be meeting March 8 to make a decision which will affect the students and faculty of New Madrid County Central High School. The school board will decide whether to give the teachers and administrators a 4 percent pay raise and lay off four teachers for the 2004-05 school year or to keep the teachers and no one gets a pay raise. ...